Kitty Calhoun

Until I found God, climbing was my only religion. Initially, I was drawn
to climbing because I knew nothing about it. Although I was afraid of
heights, I wanted to challenge myself, and alpine climbing, especially
in the winter in the Rockies, became my passion. Surviving my first
forced bivouac, my first avalanche and my first storm without food
accelerated my learning curve. After three winters, I decided to see
what I could learn from other mountain ranges around the world.

As a kid, I never dreamed I would visit countries like Peru, Nepal and
India, but climbing brought me to these places and more, and interacting
with their cultures helped me develop an open mind. But what meant the
most was the intense bond that formed between me and my partners when we
worked together through incredible hardships.

My major motivation now is to learn new skills as I push my technical abilities.
Climbing at my limits keeps me humble. I am trying to lose the
judgmental attitude and focus instead on my connections with other
people and the environment. I have finally reached a place where I can
be a driven climber, but content at the same time. Though I am still
looking for the next cool line to do, that search no longer defines who
I am.

Eric Bjornstad: curriculum vitae

1979: First climb: 5.6, Green Cover, North Carolina, while a student at North Carolina Outward Bound.

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